There Are Tragically Few Basements In Tornado Alley [CHART]

The death toll has reached 24, including several children. Entire
neighborhoods were flattened and hundreds of homes were
destroyed. Rescuers are still searching the area.

Oklahoma is in "Tornado Alley," a region of the Midwest that is
especially prone to twisters. When a tornado hits, the best place
to seek shelter is underground. Unfortunately, as Oklahoma news
anchors noted Monday, most homes in the state don't have
basements.

In some areas of Oklahoma,
bedrock lying beneath soil presents an obstacle. To
create a basement in an area where bedrock is prevalent,
explosives would be required. The cost is too much for most
people.

Another problem is the damp soil and high water table in the
state. Water seeping into basements could lead to dampness and
mold, creating a safety hazard. There are
methods for waterproofing basements, but those procedures are also
expensive.

But the West South Central region, where Oklahoma is located,
has the lowest share of basements in the U.S., according to a
National Association of Home Builders data analysis from
2005. Of
new homes built that year in the West South Central region,
only 0.5 percent had basements.

The best bet for someone who lives in Tornado Alley is building a
storm shelter. These shelters can withstand winds of up to 250 miles
per hour. Monday's tornado in Moore, Oklahoma had winds of
about 200 miles per hour at its peak, according to initial
figures from the National Weather Service.

Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb of about 56,000 people, was hit
with another massive tornado in 1999. The May 3 tornado had
incredible wind speeds of more
than 300 miles per hour.